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Andrea

Pope Francis is of course absolutely right about spreading and reflecting Christian joy.
I saw many nice families, and several of the testimonies given were truly moving.
BUT: the so called entertainment offered throughout this event was a suffering to endure.
Why? With all respect to the “singers”, it was all too obvious that their calling is not to sing.
Unless the arrangers think that anyone can sing, anyone just needs to open their mouths and produce some night club music. Yes, this was night club music and jazz.
The church is global and welcomes everybody, so it proclaims. My question: would it have hurt any family or anyone in the Vatican(?) if at least one, single sacred song would have been allowed to be performed, maybe by some talented child or young lady? Or a young talented boy? Would a beautifully sung Ave Maria have disturbed and spoilt the event?
Moreover; the “performance” of the young “singers” was very painful and embarrassing to watch, since they, obviously, did not demonstrate even the slightest hint of talent, quite the contrary. And nobody seemed to pay any attention, anyway.They were there to create some kind of background , a wall to wall carpet.
How come that they themselves think that they can sing? Where is sound self cristicism and self insight? Who have encouraged them?
When I went to school, everybody instinctively knew his or her limits, and not one single pupil would even have dreamt of asking or craving to do sth which they could not deliver.
I don´t play the violin. Hence, I would never imagine that I could, even less so demand that I be allowed to play the violin, anywhere. The church often warns against narcissism, but what is this, if not a kind of narcissism; without the slightest embarrassment, disclosing the most painful amateurism, in front of the pope and the whole world watching on TV.
Our neighbour´s daughter, 10 years old, has a lovely voice. Even she, despite her young age, marvelled at the incompetence displayed by the “singers”, especially on an occasion like this. Her mother is just as puzzled as I am, since it is crystal clear now that THE only thing which is encouraged in the Vatican, on events like these, is 100 % amateurism. Her daughter´s great (or anyone´s) gift would, apparently, be met with cold disinterest by those in the Vatican responsable for these mass arrangements. The message clearly is:”GET OUT, ALL OF YOU YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANY GREART TALENT”. “WE DON´T NEED YOU”.
Please, before some of you attack me for having an “elitist” approach, remember that the only ones who are excluded to share their talents are those who are- talented.
Neither would I complain that much, if at least one or two gifted and trained Young singers would have been given a chance to sing a beautiful CATHOLIC song.
Snatch the microphone from those pathetic “singers” and they would not even be able to mnake themselves heard at all, having very weak and untrained voices.
Theirt is just one Word for this and let me say this straight, without much sofistication: MOBBING from part of responsable church officials.
Almost on a daily basis, sometimes, a huge amount od publicity and benevolent attention is shown for sports stars, and not seldom for pop- and rock stars. They are treated as VIP in the church, also by high ranking officials in the Vatican.ç
Was the apostle Paul wrong, when he declared that “all gifts” are to be considered of graet value to the church? And to be respected.
Once again: WHERE IS THE RESPECT AND ENCOURAGEMENT from the Vatican officials, arranging this event, as well as others of similar carácter, of great talents among the catholic young?

Guest

Any idea which choir it was ? I think they need the Westminster Cathedral Choir back.
Sounded like liturgical sacred music to me, no boogieing to THAT !

Sadly it seems he is all too content to drive a wedge between himself and Orthodox Catholics – whether we like to be labelled ‘conservative’ et al or not.

Of course I do not assert this as fact, indeed trusting in God I doubt it, yet it is the all too palpable experience that many of us have.

And, note well, this is not the discomfort of the progressive, 1970’s-style, all-was-well idea under the awesome Benedict.

‘In addition to the above, the Holy Father Francis has directed that every religious of the congregation of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate is required to celebrate the liturgy according to the ordinary rite and that, if the occasion should arise, the use of the extraordinary form (Vetus Ordo) must be explicitly authorized by the competent authorities, for every religious and/or community that makes the request.’

This is not the restriction of a pleasant group hug, or an enthusiasm for a clique – it is an assault on the one only Holy Mass.

Of course the Holy Father can discipline religious involved in silly bickering, indeed he must, that is his job – as Supreme the Pontiff.

What should not be forgotten in this woe-begotten episode is that all this is the once-for-all Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and our participation in it.

Tridentinus

Alas, the dumbing down of religion, of the Catholic Church in particular which began in the late sixties shows no sign of slowing down; even under the papacies of John-Paul II and Benedict XVI this sort of thing continued to flourish or at least was tolerated within a number of dioceses: the most dreadful examples are readily available on Youtube.

Prior to Vatican II this would have been impossible as decorum was the order of the day; now anything goes. We even have in the last few days, Cardinal Ravasi twittering sympathetically upon the death of Lou Reed who was responsible for the atrocious lyrics of ‘Walk on the Wild Side’. What is happening in our Church? Our forebears, including our martyrs who suffered for their Faith would be scandalised; even to the extent of questioning whether their terrible suffering and horriific martyrdom were in vain when one looks at the accomodation the current Catholic Church has with the Prince of this World, Satanas.